Bountiful Bonterra

Pris has been warning that this would happen, but I didn't really believe her.  We've been on a pretty exceptional wine kick with a number of really superb wines that aren't what we'd call everyday wines.  So when we came back to a good everyday wine, I had some trouble adjusting.  Pris has been wanting to review some more of our everyday wines that we like, and something that's readily accessible at H.E.B.  Let's face it, that's where most of us spend the majority of our shopping time, and its easiest to pick wine up while we're there.

That said, Bonterra's 2008 Merlot is a great wine.  It has a very heavy fruit presence with ripe berry overtones.  But its still lighter than heavier and dryer Cabs.  We had tried the Bonterra Cab a few months back and it was so good, we went back for another bottle. This time, however, we decided to go with the Merlot. It was very smooth, and offered subtle tannins for a soft finish that contained a hint of spiciness.  You should definitely let this one open up in the bottle or your glass.  I tried a sip shortly after opening the bottle, and it really wasn't the best first impression. Fortunately, I'm not one to let a wine go to waste.  Bonterra's Merlot opened up nicely over the course of an hour or so.

We had the Bonterra last night with steak and paprika/garlic mashed potatoes.  There was a spicy bite in the wine that complemented the spice in the steak and potatoes nicely.  While the wine was light, it did not get lost with the meat.  However, we worked on the remainder this evening with a chicken/sausage marinara over penne and the wine really shined.  It worked better with the slightly lighter fare.

At about $12 at H.E.B., the 2008 Bonterra Merlot is a fantastic everyday drinking wine; it is a wine you can keep on hand to open when you feel like having a glass.  As an added bonus, Bonterra is made from organically grown grapes.  This allows for a softer, purer flavor in the final product.  Bonterra Vineyards is considered a pioneer in the field of biodynamic viticulture and the use of organic grapes.  This particular Merlot is everything you'd expect from a Merlot.  Bold but soft, fruitful but not sweet, and smooth with a hint of spice.  A great find from H.E.B.

As stated earlier, the Bonterra 2008 Merlot can be found at H.E.B. and it runs about $12 a   bottle.  For more information you can visit: http://www.bonterra.com/